*First spot is reserved for Brandon Triche. I really like the game he played against the Gaels. I definitely think it was his best overall effort of the season.

Triche ended up with 14 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds, including a key rebound when Iona missed a three late that would have cut the score down to three (77-74) had it gone in.

I have been as hard as anyone on Triche this season, but he is starting to come around. What I really liked about this game was how decisive he was. His decision-making was quick and he played with a lot more confidence than I have seen all year. He wasn't afraid to spot up and shoot it and actually shot pretty well (5-8). He had some really nice passes and led the break well, which was what allowed Syracuse the little bit of separation they needed to hold off a pesky Iona squad.

Triche looked like a point guard out there ,though Boeheim says it doesn't matter who is the point guard. But more on that in a second.

I didn't take a thing from the Colgate game, but this was the type of opponent, as Morgan State and Drexel will be, that provide enough of a challenge to see how ready Triche is for Big East play. Here is hoping it keeps up.

Now, on that point guard thing. There has been a little bit of debate as to whether Scoop or Triche should play point. Boeheim said at his presser that it doesn't matter.

“I thought he was positive right from the start. He was very good, very good. You have to understand this debate here. We have two point guards. Scoop may bring the ball up. I can bring the ball up. Anyone could bring up the ball if there’s no pressure, which there is no pressure. Once we get to the attacking zone, both guards become point guards. Brandon (Triche) had seven assists. Well that’s what point guards do. When the ball is in his hands he is now a point guard. We screen for him. Sometimes he doesn’t need a screen. He can penetrate on his own.

Duke is playing with three "2" guards right now. They’re still pretty good. That’s all just talk, talk show talk. We don’t need to designate. They’re guards. Dion’s (Waiters) a guard. He drives, he gives screens, he makes plays. Brandon just has to relax and go out and play like he did tonight like he’s done many times. He’s a tremendous player. Point guard is something for people to talk about. It really is not relative to anything, absolutely anything.”

Those darn talk show guys. Always stirring up trouble.

*Kris Joseph had the offensive game he needs to play and was SU's leading scorer with 21 points and 7 rebounds. He even chipped in 4 assists and logged more minutes than anyone with 38.

Joseph was aggressive in the open floor and wasn't afraid to take it inside. He attempted one really bad shot early, one that Boeheim took him out for, but settled in a bit after that adding two three's on three attempts.

His defense left a little to be desired, but this was the type of game Joseph needs to have more of and what his best contribution can be in Big East play.

One of the great highlights of the night came when Syracuse was building a big lead late (that eventually fizzled away) and Joseph drove in for a thunder jam to make it 76-61.

*Dion Waiters was the definition of sunny side/dark side. His offense was the sunny side in this one with 12 points chipped in in 14 minutes.

Plenty of highlight material from Dion vs Iona. He had a spin move in the first half that was so good I swear I could smell rubber burning after he did it. He also had a towering one-handed jam, a great steal and drive, and two key free throws at the end of the game.

As for his defense...well, that is what the dark side is for.

*Fun to see James Southerland with a solid run off the bench in the 2nd half. He played 10 minutes in place of Rick Jackson and made the most of it.

Southerland stuck a nice three-pointer on a play that got Scoop out of trouble. Southerland can definitely shoot it, but had been in a bit of funk in that department in game action when given the chance. If he can square that away and get a little better on defense, he'll get minutes.

Southerland also had back-to-back jams in an exciting run in the second half that took the score up to 76-61.

*C.J. Fair got some quality minutes in the first half, and as it turns out, played those minutes on a bum ankle. Fair chipped in six points, 4 rebounds, plus blocked a shot and had two steals. Boeheim called it the best he has played all year.

Bad news was his ankle swelled up and he couldn't play in the second half. More on that in the dark side.

*Kind of a so-so game for Rick Jackson overall, but he did lead the team with eight rebounds.

*Pretty good run for Scoop Jardine, as he chipped in 11 points and six assists, had a really nice steal and drive in the second half, and made two key free throws to make it 79-71 as time was winding down.

*Syracuse shot very well in this game. Using the break to their full advantage, Syracuse shot 59%, including 66% (18-27) in the second half.

*I mentioned a few names individually, but overall the SU bench was solid in outscoring Iona 27-7.

*Kind of surprising to see in a way as Iona's Mike Glover had such a huge game (25 and 16), but SU ran the break well and ran away with points in the paint 52-26.

*Only 10 turnovers for Syracuse.

*Syracuse made the most of Iona's 12 turnovers, cashing them in for 20 points.